Rise of the Enigmatic Daniel Wells

Chapter 006

After exchanging pleasantries, Daniel walked with Lila Lakes, both making causal talks as they walked.

"Thank you once again..." she trailed off.

"Daniel. Daniel Wells," he introduced.

She wore a pleasant smile. "Thank you once again, Mr Daniel Wells."

Daniel pressed his lips into a thin line, his expression a bit lightened when though his body still ached a little from the ambush.

"My pleasure." He replied curtly. As he walked, he made a mental note of which of his houses he was going to move into. "Thank you too."

Aria had not heard the last of him. He was going to settle down before striking back so hard it would leave her in shambles. Her career would be worse than it was at first.

"Have coffee with me," she offered, drawing Daniel out of his thoughts. He stared at her with his brows cocjed slightly and a small smirk.

"You don't have to—"

"I want to," she insisted, her smile wide even though her eyes told of her true sadness. "It is just a little appreciation gift for you coming to rescue me from those men."

He let out a sigh. "Alright."

They stopped by at a cafe a few miles away from them, and Daniel observed quietly.

He was not in the mood to talk to anyone, but he could tell that this lady would not let him go without him accepting her invitation.

He shrugged mentally. At least he could forget about Aria for a while.

"I know you're wondering what a lady like me was doing out there in the middle of nowhere where I was targeted by those men."

Daniel turned to her, his face neutral, but his brows raised slightly to depict his interest in the conversation—minimal interest.

"Things have just been so hard lately. I was going to clear my head and also see if I could find a way out of my misery," she poured out, her eyes growing watery as she spoke.

Daniel stared at her with a glint of compassion in his eyes, and she continued.

"Permit me to rant to you since I have no one else to rant to," she chuckled nervously. "Besides, we just might never see again after now."

"Work hasn't been easy these days. I have no clue why my directors keep rejecting me for the role of the lead actress. Gosh! I don't even know why they keep choosing that lady as the lead. Her acting skills are so pathetic," she whined.

At this point, Daniel's attention was piqued. He raised his brows higher. "Tell me more about it. Like you said, we probably won't meet again, so you don't have to worry about feeling awkward later."

He was beginning trcall where he had seen her from, but he just needed her to confirm it to him.

She let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

Daniel stared into her eyes curiously. "You never told me your name anyway."

"Well, you didn't ask," she replied with a teasing grin. "I'm Lila. Lila Lakes."

Daniel's eyes widened slightly, and a wave of guilt washed over him as he stared into the eyes of the weary woman who was like this because of him.

Of course! She was the lady he had seen on the day of the ceremony who did not look too pleased. How could she be when he had kept cancelling her roles and asking that they be given to Aria?

"I'm an actress who used to be quite successful until another actress called Aria Symore came into the picture. She seemed to have connected because we both applied for the same roles, and even though my skills are much better–not to brag—she keeps getting sleected."

He let out a sigh. If he was going to fully heal from Aria's brutal betrayal, he was going to have to start by setting some things right.

Apologetically, he began, "Lila, I'm sorry about your —"

He was interrupted by two different sounds of ringtone. He pulled out his ringing phone from his pocket. It was the director. Cleff.

He pressed his lips into a thin line, his countenance growing firm. He glanced at Lila, who also had her ringing phone in her palms. Her face was white for some reason.

He picked up the call when it had almost ended.

"Good morning, Mr Well," the director's voice came from the other end of the line, reverence dripping from his tone.

"Yes, Cleff?" His tone had dropped degrees lower. It was cold—so cold that Lila locked eyes with him for a split moment.

"Mr Wells, we will be having an inside party to select the lead actress for our next new movie, and we will love to have you with us."

Daniel's eyes were cold and calculating as he stared straight ahead with his thumb grazing his index fingers.

The director, not hearing a response from the huge CEO who had been instrumental to his greatness, grew worried.

"We just thought it would be a —"

"I won't be attending, Cleff," Daniel answered briefly, leaving the director stunned. Daniel didn't wait for his response before he ended the call.

Turning back to Lila, his brows drew together in a frown at her teary eyes and her quivering lips. Definitely, the call she had just taken had upset her.

"Is everything okay, Lila?" He found himself being drawn to her, especially since he was part of the reasons for her problems.

She shook her head, trying to wear a light smile it. "It's just some minor issue. I don't want to bother you with it," she waved it, but Daniel was not satisfied.

"Tell me. I just might know someone who can help you solve it," he pressed on.

With a sigh, she broke down in tears, pouring out to him. "That was my landlord. I haven't been able to pay my rent for a while now, and I guess he has gotten to his breaking point."

Daniel cocked his brows, taking in her appearance in one glance. He found it hard to believe that this lady was about to be thrown out.

Her dressing told otherwise. Her jewellery was definitely not cheap either. It was surprising that she would not have money to pay her rent.

His compassionate side took over him anyway, and he urged her. "I have a room that I can rent to you."

Her eyes lit up but slowly dimmed. "Really? But you didn't even know me."

A ghost of a smirk played on his lips as he stared at her, glad he was able to pay back a little for ruining her life.

"You can pay on your terms."

She let out a loud squeal, flinging herself into his arms mindlessly for a moment. "Thank you so much."

Daniel stiffened in her embrace. He hadn't expected it, but he soon relaxed, feeling grateful for the chance to make it up to her. If she knew he was the reason she didn't have a home, she would most likely do the opposite of what she had just done, so he appreciated it.

"Let's go."

Daniel led her to one of his apartments complex—the one he had eventually concluded that he would stay. It was a twenty storey building in one of the posh areas on of the city.

"Wow. You own an apartment here?" Lila asked, her eyes growing wide with excitement.

Daniel did nothing in response except to wear a smirk. If only she knew he owned the whole building.

They strolled to the elevator that would lead them to the twentieth floor, where Daniel planned to give her the apartment.

As they stepped into they elevator and the door closed shut, Daniel turned around, and his eyes locked with that of Aria, and her lover, John Slade...